Weather indicating instrument

ABSTRACT

A weather instrument for indicating atmospheric pressure and expected weather conditions incident to falling and rising barometric conditions, including a stationary panel with a circular scale for indicating atmospheric pressure, an angularly adjustable transparent dial concentric with the pressure scale and having a reference line together with indicia at opposite sides thereof to indicate weather expectations, and a barometric device responsive to atmospheric pressure having an angularly movable needle over the pressure scale and the transparent dial, in an arrangement which permits the adjustable dial to be set with reference to the needle, wherever the needle is positioned, so that subsequent movement of the needle relative to the adjustable dial indicates not only atmospheric pressure but also expected weather conditions incident to falling and rising atmospheric conditions.

United States atent [191 Niccoli [4 1 Jan. 15, 1974 [73] Assignee:Airguide Instrument Company,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 300,423

Primary ExaminerLouis .1. Capozi Alt0rney-Axel A. Hofgren et al.

[ ABSTRACT A weather instrument for indicating atmospheric pressure andexpected weather conditions incident to falling and rising barometricconditions, including a stationary panel with a circular scale forindicating atmospheric pressure, an angularly adjustable transparentdial concentric with the pressure scale and having a reference linetogether with indicia at opposite sides thereof to indicate weatherexpectations, and a barometric device responsive tqatrpgspheric pressurehaving an angularly movable needle over the pressure scale and thetransparent dial, in an arrangement which permits the adjustable dial tobe set with reference to the needle, wherever the needle is positioned,so that subsequent movement of the needle relative to the adjustabledial indicates not only atmospheric pressure but also expected weatherconditions incident to falling and rising atmospheric conditions.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I WEATHER HNIDIICATHNG INSTRUMENT BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a weather instrument forindicating atmospheric pressure and expected weather conditions incidentto falling and rising barometric conditions. In the past, there havebeen some devices which undertake to convey similar information. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,600 relates to such a device. However,prior devices have been subject to some disadvantage in that theangularly movable needle for indicating barometric pressure has beenpartially obscured by an overlying dial with markings which partiallymask the underlying area. It would be desirable to provide an instrumentin which the needle is readily visible so that the instrument may beeasily read in varying light conditions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates aweather indicating instrument including a stationary panel with acircular scale for indicating atmospheric pressure, a transparent dialmounted on the stationary panel concentric with the pressure scale andincluding a reference line together with indicia at opposite sides ofthe reference line for indicating expected weather conditions incidentto falling and rising pressures, a device responsive to atmosphericpressure including a needle shaft extending through the stationary paneland the transparent dial, and a needle on the outboard end of the needleshaft movable relative to the pressure scale and the transparent dialresponsive to changes in atmospheric conditions.

In order to accomodate the barometer needle shaft so that the needle isdisposed over both the pressure scale and the adjustable dial, a tubulareyelet surrounds the needle shaft and extends through the stationarypanel and the adjustable dial. A frictional washer is mounted on thetubular eyelet between the panel and the dial, and outwardly extendingflanges on the opposite ends of the eyelet grip the panel and the dialto hold the dial yieldably in adjusted positions.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a transparent cover is providedover the needle with an outer perimeter of the cover secured to theouter perimeter of the adjustable dial to define a manually accessibleknob facilitating adjustment of the dial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, a weather instrument lembodying the principles of the present invention includes a base plateor back panel 112 of generally rectangular configuration and includingan outstanding flange 14 along the perimeter adapted to support theperimeter of a rectangular front panel l6. The front panel 16 is securedin position on the support 14 by means of a case or cover 18 surroundingthe flange l4 and including an inwardly and downwardly directed flange20 engageable with the perimeter of the panel 16. As best seen in FIG.3, the back panel 12 includes a plurality of mounting lugs 22 adapted toregister with corresponding bosses 24 on the case 18. The mounting lugs22 are apertured or recessed to accept screws as at 26 threadable intothe bosses 24. When the screws 26 are tightened, the front panel 16 isheld between the flanges l4 and 20.

As best seen in FIGS. I and 2, a barometric device 30 is mounted on theback panel 12 adjacent one end thereof to cooperate with indicia on thefront panel 16. The remaining area of the back panel 12 and the frontpanel 16 may be utilized as desired, for example, to support otherinstruments such as a thermometer or a hygrometer. If desired, the frontpanel 16 may be utilized for a scenic display or to display weatherinformation. As best seen in FIG. 2, the barometric device 30 includes ahousing 32 supported by spacers 34 appropriately secured to the backpanel 12. The specific mechanism in the housing 32 is not important tothe present invention and is not illustrated in detail, except to show aneedle shaft 36 rotatably mounted in appropriate bearing means in thehousing 32. The shaft 36 is mounted to move angularly in response tovariations in barometric pressure. The outboard end of the shaft 36carries a tubular extension 38 secured thereon to rotate with the shaft.The extension 38 has a radially disposed needle 40 which is utilized inconjunction with a pressure scale 42 provided on the outer surface ofthe front panel l6. The scale 42 includes an arcuate array of angularlyspaced indicia representative of atmospheric pressure in terms of inchesof mercury.

In conjunction with the pressure scale 42, and adjustable dial 44 ismounted concentrically about the barometer needle shaft 36 and includesa reference line 46 together with indicia at opposite sides of thereference line 46 for indicating a falling barometer and a risingbarometer, as well as weather conditions expected to accompany thefalling or rising atmospheric pressures. As viewed in FIG. 6, at theleft of the reference line 46, the dial 44 includes the term FALLING inreference to decreasing atmospheric pressure which might be expected toproduce unsettled conditions indicated by the terms RAIN and STORMY. Tothe right of the reference line 46, the dial includes the term RISINGintended to refer to conditions when the atmospheric pressure isincreasing, when the weather might be expected to be good as indicatedby the terms FAIR and VERY DRY.

The adjustable dial'44 is made of appropriate transparent material sothat the pressure scale 42 may be read through the dial 44. In order tomount the dial 44, it is formed with a central hub 48 carried on atubular eyelet 50 which is mounted on the front panel 16 centrally ofthe pressure scale 42 and accomodates the needle shaft 36 and itsextension 38. In order to yieldably retain the adjustable transparentdial in various angularly adjusted positions, a frictional washer 52 ismounted on the tubular eyelet 50 between the frorit panel 16 and thedial hub 48, and opposite ends of the eyelet 50 are formed withoutwardly'turned flanges as at 54 and 56 respectively engaging the frontpanel 16 and the adjustable dial 44. Preferably, the washer 52 is madeof rubber, and the pressure of the flanges 54 and 56 is sufficient toretain the dial 44 in adjusted positions while permitting manualadjustment of the dial when desired.

The needle 40 is protected by a transparent crystal or cover 60 whichmay be domed as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, and which includes an outerperipheral flange 62 secured to an outstanding circular flange 64 on thedial 44. Preferably, the flanges are secured together by suitablecement, and the flange 62 includes a protective covering ring 66, sothat the cover 60 may be manually grasped as a knob for purposes ofangularly adjusting the dial 44.

In use of the weather instrument as described above, the atmosphericpressure scale 42 is stationary on the front panel 16 and visiblethrough the adjustable dial 44 and the transparent cover 60, so that asthe needle 40 moves angularly over the pressure scale, the needleindicates atmospheric pressure. In order to utilize the apparatus toindicate expected weather conditions accompanying rising or fallingatmospheric conditions, the adjustable transparent dial 44 may be set atany given time with the reference line 46 coincident with the needle 40.Afterward, when the needle moves responsive to changes in atmosphericconditions, it will move into one or the other of the zones labeledFALLING or RISING on the adjustable dial 44 to indicate either thatunsettled weather conditions may be expected or that good weatherconditions may be expected. The transparent cover 60 ensures that theneedle 40 is readily visible, and that the adjustable dial 44 is alsoreadily visible, while the pressure scale 42 is viewable through theadjustable dial.

I claim:

I. A weather indicating instrument, comprising,

a. a base,

b. a front panel mounted on the base and having an arcuate scale withangularly spaced indicia for indicating barometric pressure,

. a tubular eyelet extending through the front panel centrally of thecircular scale,

d. a barometric device responsive to barometric pressure mounted on thebase and having a needle shaft extending through the eyelet andangularly movable on changes in barometric pressure,

e. a transparent dial concentric with the circular scale having acentral portion mounted on the eyelet for angular adjustment andincluding a reference line and indicia at opposite sides thereof forindicating weather expectations incident to falling and risingbarometric conditions,

f. means on the eyelet yieldably retaining the transparent dial inadjusted positions, and

g. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaft movable around thecircular scale and the trans parent dial.

2. A weather indicating instrument as defined in claim 1, including awasher on the tubular eyelet between the front panel and the transparentdial, and outwardly extending flanges on opposite ends of the eyeletengaging the front panel and the transparent dial to hold the dial inadjusted position.

3. A weather indicating instrument as defined in claim 1, including atransparent cover over the needle having an outer perimeter secured tothe transparent dial and defining a manually accessible knob.

4. A weather indicating instrument comprising,

a. a base,

b. a front panel mounted on the base and having a circular scale withindicia for indicating barometric pressure,

c. a transparent dial mounted for angular adjustment on the front panelconcentric with the circular scale and including a reference line andindicia at opposite sides thereof for indicating weather expectationsincident to falling and rising barometric conditions,

d. a barometric device responsive to barometric pressure mounted on thebase and having a needle shaft extending through the front panel andtransparent dial and angularly movable on changes in barometricpressure,

e. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaft movable over theindicia of the circular scale and the transparent dial, and

f. a transparent cover over the needle and the dial having an outerperimeter secured to the outer perimeter of the transparent dial.

5. A weather indicating instrument comprising,

a. a base,

b. a front panel mounted on the base and having a circular scale withindicia for indicating barometric pressure,

c. a transparent dial mounted on the front panel concentric with thecircular scale and including a reference line and indicia at oppositesides thereof for indicatirig weather expectations incident to fallingand rising barometric conditions,

d. a barometric device responsive to barometric pressure mounted on thebase and having a needle shaft extending through the front panel andtransparent dial and angularly movable on changes in barometricpressure,

e. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaft movable around thecircular scale and the transparent dial,

f. a transparent cover over the needle having an outer perimeter securedto the outer perimeter of the transparent dial,

g. a tubular eyelet around the needle shaft extending through the frontpanel and transparent dial,

h. a frictional washer on the tubular eyelet between the front panel andthe transparent dial, and

i. outwardly extending flanges on opposite ends of the eyelet engagingthe front panel and the transparent dial to hold the dial in adjustedpositions.

1. A weather indicating instrument, comprising, a. a base, b. a frontpanel mounted on the base and having an arcuate scale with angularlyspaced indicia for indicating barometric pressure, c. a tubular eyeletextending through the front panel centrally of the circular scale, d. abarometric device responsive to barometric pressure mounted on the baseand having a needle shaft extending through the eyelet and angularlymovable on changes in barometric pressure, e. a transparent dialconcentric with the circular scale having a central portion mounted onthe eyelet for angular adjustment and including a reference line andindicia at opposite sides thereof for indicating weather expectationsincident to falling and rising barometric conditions, f. means on theeyelet yieldably retaining the transparent dial in adjusted positions,and g. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaft movable aroundthe circular scale and the transparent dial.
 2. A weather indicatinginstrument as defined in claim 1, including a washer on the tubulareyelet between the front panel and the transparent dial, and outwardlyextending flanges on opposite ends of the eyelet engaging the frontpanel and the transparent dial to hold the dial in adjusted position. 3.A weather indicating instrument as defined in claim 1, including atransparent cover over the needle having an outer perimeter secured tothe transparent dial and defining a manually accessible knob.
 4. Aweather indicating instrument comprising, a. a base, b. a front panelmounted on the base and having a circular scale with indicia forindicating barometric pressure, c. a transparent dial mounted forangular adjustment on the front panel concentric with the circular scaleand including a reference line and indicia at opposite sides thereof forindicating weather expectations incident to falling and risingbarometric conditions, d. a barometric device responsive to barometricpressure mounted on the base and having a needle shaft extending throughthe front panel and transparent dIal and angularly movable on changes inbarometric pressure, e. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaftmovable over the indicia of the circular scale and the transparent dial,and f. a transparent cover over the needle and the dial having an outerperimeter secured to the outer perimeter of the transparent dial.
 5. Aweather indicating instrument, comprising, a. a base, b. a front panelmounted on the base and having a circular scale with indicia forindicating barometric pressure, c. a transparent dial mounted on thefront panel concentric with the circular scale and including a referenceline and indicia at opposite sides thereof for indicating weatherexpectations incident to falling and rising barometric conditions, d. abarometric device responsive to barometric pressure mounted on the baseand having a needle shaft extending through the front panel andtransparent dial and angularly movable on changes in barometricpressure, e. a needle on the outboard end of the needle shaft movablearound the circular scale and the transparent dial, f. a transparentcover over the needle having an outer perimeter secured to the outerperimeter of the transparent dial, g. a tubular eyelet around the needleshaft extending through the front panel and transparent dial, h. africtional washer on the tubular eyelet between the front panel and thetransparent dial, and i. outwardly extending flanges on opposite ends ofthe eyelet engaging the front panel and the transparent dial to hold thedial in adjusted positions.